But seriously folks...

[Mammal]

But seriously folks...

I know you're all intelligent people here, so what I want to know is this.

Do you really, honestly, hand-on-heart believe in god?

Think about this before you answer. Do you really believe that there is an amorphous father-figure floating about up in the sky, or is it just wishful thinking? Perhaps you like the idea that you can commit sins then pray to the said father-figure and have your sins absolved without penalty? Or maybe you can't stand the idea we just rot away when we die, and the idea of a god provides you with the promise of something better? Hey, maybe you simply like the structure and social occasion of going to church every Sunday.

Let me put it another way. If you were trapped in a burning car wreck or a collapsing building, who would you have try to rescue you? God, or a trained firefighter?

Regards

[rikwad]

Hmmm... I would pray to God to send a trained firefighter. 

[Mammal]

Hmmm... I would pray to God to send a trained firefighter. 

And would God send you the trained firefighter? Or would that be the folks at the emergency call dispatch centre?

Let's say that you risked your life to save someone from a burning building, and afterwards everyone ignored you and praised "god" for saving that person. How would you feel about that?

Be honest.

[haunted]

"But seriously":

Do you expect anyone that believes in some sort of intelligent design to come forth and say:

"Your relentless forum posts have finally brought me around to your way of thinking."

Be honest.

 

Could you do us all a favor and turn it down a few notches with the bait and troll crap?

[Mammal]

Well, historically, I guess that's the way religious people seem to think. Mammal doesn't agree with me, so let's burn him at the stake! Wheee!

PS: If I'm "baiting and trolling" I don't mean it. It just somehow comes out that way.

[yahoo]

[Mammal]

I never mean to bait or troll anyone. I just say what I think and respond to anyone who replies. If that's baiting and trolling then sue me.

By the way, you obviously CHOOSE to read my posts, so maybe you just need to suck it up and accept that maybe sometimes I have something valid to say. And if you're unable or unwilling to reply then that's about you, not me.

Regards

[|iR|Focalor]

I'm...

a so-called religious person.

And as best as I can figure, it's only because I do not disapprove of others who wish to follow any particular religion. Which is kinda like the Westboro Baptists calling someone a fag for not openly and obnoxiously denouncing homosexuality.

You're constantly pointing to the intolerance found in religion, but unable to see the intolerance in your own judgments.

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

And this concept is not unique to Christianity.

From Wikipedia...

From A proverb of this sort was familiar to the Jews and appears in numerous other cultures too, such as the Latin proverb of later Roman days referenced by Athenagoras of Athens, meretrix pudicam.

And it's interesting and somewhat ironic that this page references Athenagoras of Athens...

Legatio Pro Christianis

The Embassy for the Christians, the date of which is fixed by internal evidence as late in 176 or 177, was a carefully written plea for justice to the Christians made by a philosopher, on philosophical grounds, to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and his son Commodus, whom he flatters as conquerors, "but above all, philosophers".

The Apology is an early attempt use Neoplatonic ideas to interpret Christian belief for Greek and Roman cultures. He first complains of the illogical and unjust discrimination against the Christians and of the calumnies they suffer, and then meets the charge of atheism (a major complaint directed at the Christians of the day was that by disbelieving in the Roman gods, they were showing themselves to be atheists). This first strongly-reasoned argument for the unity of God in Christian literature is supplemented by an able exposition of the Trinity.

Assuming then the defensive, he justifies the Christian abstention from worship of the national deities by arguing that it is absurd and indecent, quoting at length the pagan poets and philosophers in support of his contention. Finally, he meets the charges of immorality by exposing the Christian ideal of purity, even in thought, and the inviolable sanctity of the marriage bond. In refuting the charge of cannibalism Athenagoras states that Christians detest all cruelty and murder, refusing to attend contests of gladiators and wild beasts and holding that women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder for which they will have to give an account to God.

http://forum.tastyspleen.net/quake/index.php?topic=16358.0

 

[rikwad]

http://forum.tastyspleen.net/quake/index.php?topic=16358.0

 

 I think the Tubster and I have something in common. Here is a video that is possibly related, and if not, just enjoy the humour.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nReLJ8UVMCM

[Mammal]

Assuming then the defensive, he justifies the Christian abstention from worship of the national deities by arguing that it is absurd and indecent, quoting at length the pagan poets and philosophers in support of his contention. Finally, he meets the charges of immorality by exposing the Christian ideal of purity, even in thought, and the inviolable sanctity of the marriage bond. In refuting the charge of cannibalism Athenagoras states that Christians detest all cruelty and murder, refusing to attend contests of gladiators and wild beasts and holding that women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder for which they will have to give an account to God.

Technically, Christians are cannibals. At every Sunday mass, the priest changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which the congregation then eats and drinks.

That's cannibalism.

And no, the changing of the bread and wine into flesh and blood is not merely a symbolic transformation, at least not in Catholicism. Catholic doctrine states that the bread (communion wafer) and wine literally become the flesh and blood of Christ, which the people then eat and drink.

That's cannibalism, is it not?

[rikwad]

Technically, Christians are cannibals. At every Sunday mass, the priest changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which the congregation then eats and drinks.

That's cannibalism.

And no, the changing of the bread and wine into flesh and blood is not merely a symbolic transformation, at least not in Catholicism. Catholic doctrine states that the bread (communion wafer) and wine literally become the flesh and blood of Christ, which the people then eat and drink.

That's cannibalism, is it not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53joBFeC75g

[Mammal]

I'm not grasping at straws. Cannibalism is simply a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transubstantiation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist

If anyone's grasping at straws right now, it's Christianity. And pretty much every other religion.

[Admin]

[yahoo]

AMEN!

2nd 2 for Tubby

[0rbisson]

Dear tubby my old friend,

To me it sounds like you are struggling with your own reality, If not why continue to ask so many questions? This is the last reply i am going to give regarding this topic, And I really hope I hit home on some points i am about to make.

did you know the word repent means to change your way of thinking? it doesn't mean to become super religious or a regular charlie church, it means to search your heart for the truth and know the creation to be true.

Did you know the laws of the old testament were specifically for the jews and not really for the gentiles (us)?

Did you know what Jesus commandments were? they were as follows... Love your neighbor as yourself and love your father in heaven with all your heart. that's it

If you believe GOD sent his son to die for your sins, rose from the dead, you will be saved and gain eternal life. its really that simple. Salvation is never works based, Anyone who tells you different is a liar. its grace through faith.

no one on the face of this planet is perfect and we would never be able to keep all GODs commandments (there are far more than 10). through Jesus death they are all fulfilled. im not saying you can go out and kill whoever you want, but we all fail, And miserably. Jesus is the only answer.

Tubby to me it sounds like you really want truth. The truth is evolution says you came from a rock. Think about it carefully. Have you ever seen life come from non life?

Anyways Tubby I wish you all the best in your endevour to find the truth and come to the right answer

P.S Christians are not cannibals and the catholic church is the last church you should be listening to as they do not teach bible truth. And before I hear you mention animal sacrifices, jesus fulfilled GODs laws so we don't have to as he was the perfect sacrifice that overcame the world. good luck Tubby